As women enter perimenopause and menopause, a majority will experience musculoskeletal symptoms associated with estrogen loss that has been collectively described as the “musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause,” referring to arthralgia, loss of bone density and muscle mass, and progression of osteoarthritis (OA).

In an article with Medscape, Heidi Prather, DO, Founder and Medical Director of the HSS Lifestyle Medicine Program said, “When middle-aged women present with new joint pain, it is important to determine where they are in the menopausal transition” to guide appropriate education and management strategies. “Women may not offer the information without being asked, as they may be unaware of the links between hormone changes and soft tissue and joint pain.”

For some women, the chronic systemic inflammation associated with estrogen loss can be well managed with lifestyle and conventional medical interventions including hormone replacement therapy (HRT), Dr. Prather explained. “For others, things can seem out of control, and usual care is not as effective.”

Dr. Prather pointed to the need for studies assessing “modifiable and nonmodifiable factors to best arm women with the information they need to manage and improve their health” across the menopause transition and beyond.

Read the full article at medscape.com.